"Hold on. Did this actually happen? Did someone just mention one of their favourite band's songs that they liked but couldn't find, and the artist actually remembered ALL the lyrics and chords and recorded a new version for everyone to hear? "

Looking forward to (legally!) downloading Heretic Pride. I loved The Sunset Tree, especially Lion's Teeth. Such a powerful, sad song (e.g., "There's no good way to end this/Anyone can see/There's this great big you/And little old me."). eMusic just got a truckload of older MG discs, so I nabbed All Hail West Texas, which is v. good, too.

Agreed with Daniel about The Sunset Tree--one of my favorite albums of 2005! Get Lonely seemed a bit too stark (depressive?) for me at the time, though--so much so that I couldn't actually listen to it all that much. Can't wait to buy a copy of the new one! Go Johnny Go!!

but regarding the leak 'n' all: I don't think talking about a leak really does me or anybody any harm. Leaks are part of the life of a release now; they're expected and anticipated. (A lot of people like to tell each other that "the labels" [always plural, very mysterious conglomerate known as The Labels] leak whole albums on purpose for buzz, but none of the indie labels I know do that; could be true in other genres/strata, I don't know.)

j0hn you have pretty far ranging tastes, e.g. metal + most everything else; have you, or have you considered, making music in a different idiom? (not that there's anything wrong with your current one--just wondering.)

yeah it's crossed my mind, world enough and time you know. just doing what I'm already doing takes up most of my time. I don't have any desire to make metal though - people ask me that a lot, but I prefer to be a fan. once you leave the fan role and become a participant it changes your relationship to the genre you're working in, and forever as far as I know. I would rather remain a metalhead in the pit or at least at the bar and leave the shredding to the people who are really good at it.

I still have a load of stuff to catch up with from 2007 so I can wait (probably) til February to pick this up with real life £££ (or possibly $$$).

We Shall All Be Healed I have probably listened to more than anything else I have ever owned and Linda Blair Was Born Innocent is quite possibly my favouritest song ever; The Sunset Tree I also gave a good outing to but not perhaps as much as I should have; I left my copy of Get Lonely in the US and haven't gotten round to buying another (gave it an aewsoem review tho) but fully intend to along with all the other bits that are missing.

I'm incredibly annoyed at myself for missing the show in London earlier this month - any possibility of another one this year or maybe a festival appearance or two?

A friend just asked which MG album to start with; I recommend ...Healed. It's my favorite, the first one I bought, thus very speical. Reminds me a bit of Joan Didion: an attempt to pin down a nameless dread that the narrator's seen but is still too spooked to delineate.

Quick request from yrs truly, who again is actually kinda relieved about the leak - I'm very proud of this record and I think people who dig my stuff are gonna be pretty into it - if you're gonna d/l it as soon as you find it, would you kindly preorder it? like, at the same time as you're downloading it, instead of "maybe I'll buy it at a show or something"? it would be very rad if y'all who're gonna grab it and intend to buy it would do this. You would be doing me a real favor. Those of you who aren't gonna buy it anyway no matter what, nothing I can say is gonna make any difference anyhow, so this isn't about that. But the rest of you, may I remind you that them there pre-orders are right here?:

www.beggarsgroupusa.com

I just preordered the digital album for what seems like a very reasonable $8.